The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/73006
2012 FOOTBALL PREVIEW N BY MATT CARTER C State went through a roller- coaster season in 2011, starting 2-3 with its two wins coming over Football Championship Subdivi- sion programs. The Pack appeared to have righted the ship with an impressive win at Virginia, only to get shut out in a lopsided loss at Florida State. An emotional shutout win over UNC was followed by a lackluster setback at Boston College. NC State, though, ended strong with three straight wins, including a domi- nating performance against No. 7 Clemson in Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh and a Belk Bowl triumph over co-Big East cham- pion Louisville in Charlotte. That has set the table for higher expecta- tions in 2012. NC State will be put to the test early with an opener against Tennessee in Atlanta Aug. 31 and a road challenge at Connecticut Sept. 8. For the Pack to get off to an impressive start, these players will need to step it up. Here are the team's top 25 players for 2012 based on their importance to the Pack's success this season. The rankings are based on a player's abilities, last season's performance, recent coaches' comments and the level of the team's needs from that position in order to have a good season. 1. QB Mike Glennon In his final three starts of last year, Glen- non completed 76 of 117 passes (65.0 per- cent) for 823 yards with 11 touchdowns and just two picks. State won all three games and averaged 41.3 points a contest in that stretch. When Glennon, a fifth-year senior, threw Mike Glennon threw for at least 250 yards, but only 23.9 points in the other seven contests. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN The Wolfpack offense averaged 33.3 points in the six games last season in which quarterback These 25 Players Could Help Make Or Break NC State's 2012 Campaign THE SEASON KEYS TO 92 ■ THE WOLFPACKER for at least 250 yards last year, which he did six times, the Pack averaged 33.3 points a game. In the seven times he totaled less than 250 yards passing, the scoring dipped al- most 10 points to 23.9 a contest. NC State's offensive production will rely heavily on a healthy Glennon throwing the ball well. 2. CB David Amerson Expecting Amerson, a junior, to top or even match last year's ACC record-setting total of 13 interceptions is far-fetched. What's more realistic is the impact Am- erson's breakthrough sophomore season will have on opposing offenses. He's far less likely to be challenged in 2013, which means Amerson is taking one side of the field and one receiver away. 3. S Earl Wolff The fifth-year senior has started every contest the past two seasons, and last year he recorded double-digit tackles in five